Yuasa: Birthplace of Japanese soy sauce and Edo-era treasures

By Hiufu Wong, CNN

Updated 0546 GMT (1246 HKT) June 21, 2013

Yuasa: Birthplace of Japanese soy sauce 15 photos

Home of Japanese soy sauce – Little did the Shinto priest who brought Kinzanji miso to Japan know, a byproduct called soy sauce would become one of the most beloved condiments in the world. In Yausa, birthplace of Japanese soy sauce, historic buildings are preserved, including this one, which houses a museum dedicated to "andon," Japanese paper lanterns.

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Yuasa: Birthplace of Japanese soy sauce 15 photos

Andon Festival – During each April's Andon Festival, the streets of Yuasa are lit by hundreds of paper lanterns. It may be the best time to visit.

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Yuasa: Birthplace of Japanese soy sauce 15 photos

Yuasa Toy Museum – In the midst of the soy sauce and miso brewing district, are a toy museum and malted-rice ice cream vendor.

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Yuasa: Birthplace of Japanese soy sauce 15 photos

Kitamachi Street – Kitamachi Street houses a miso shop, soy sauce brewery and museums. It's also an open-air museum with a mini-exhibition displayed on the walls of local houses.

Some 750 years ago, a Japanese priest arrived in Yuasa after a trip to China, bringing with him a newfound skill for making miso (soybean paste). Soy sauce was discovered accidentally -- a byproduct of the miso-making process.

Yuasa soon became the country's most important soy sauce brewing center.

Despite being a town of just a thousand or so houses, at one time it was crammed with more than 90 soy sauce stores, almost one soy sauce shop for every 10 homes.

Today, the entire city is protected by Japanese law -- its of 323 houses and other traditional buildings (four soy sauce breweries included) recognized for their immense cultural value.

Called "hongawara," some of the oldest buildings date back more than 400 years. Many still have their traditional lattice windows and curved tile roofs.

Generally tranquil, Yuasa is the kind of place where friendly residents chitchat with neighbors and museums and shops are often left open and unattended.

Travelers can sign out free bikes or check out the historic area on foot. In addition to the old soy sauce breweries, there are shrines and other interesting pieces of architecture worth some Facebook bragging.

Founded in 1841, Kadocho is one of the area's oldest soy sauce factories. It still uses the same huge tub it always has to brew soy sauce. It also has an exhibition hall across the street with the original tools used to brew soy sauce.

During Yuasa's annual Andon (paper lantern) Festival, the streets of town are lighted with paper lanterns; the Andon Gallery is an ode to the Japanese paper lantern.

Formerly a public bathhouse dating to the Edo period, Jinburo has displays documenting life in ancient Yuasa.

Renovated cafes in Edo-period machiya (traditional wooden houses) and a 113-year-old sushi restaurant, Nihonryori Yokogusu, offer visitors a way to check out the interiors of Yuasa's old structures.